This summer has been the adventure of home buying and selling. Through this whole process I’ve witnessed the power or relationships and trust. Our realtor has been amazing. She has been attentive to our needs, timely in responding and demonstrating stellar customer service. It’s made me realize again, the power of relationships in the workplace and the importance of building and keeping trust.

I’d like you to try this exercise with me:

1. Identify a person that you work with whom you have a high trust relationship with.
   1. What’s it like to work with this person?
   2. What’s it like to communicate with this person?
   3. How fast can you get things done?
   4. What kind of results are you able to achieve?
2. Now identify a person that you work with whom you have a low trust relationship with.
   1. What’s it like to work with this person?
   2. What’s it like to communicate with this person?
   3. How fast can you get things done?
   4. What kind of results are you able to achieve?
3. Compare and contrast these two people.

Stephen M.R. Covey identifies the trust tax and the trust dividend. When there is high trust in a relationship, speed goes up and costs go down. When there is low trust in a relationship speed goes down and costs go up. We teach people how to treat us. If you want trust, accountability, integrity, empathy, you have to be willing to give that and demonstrate it. One of the ways we learn to trust someone is we get up and walk around and interact with them.

I challenge you to get up and talk to those you have important work relationships with. Don’t stay behind your computer monitor or phone. Get up and meet them, interact with them find ways to learn more about them and to connect with them. This will build trust and trust is key in having productive teams and workplaces.

Share the results of the exercise with me! If you need help building trust with your teams, I’d love to help.

Lisa